Author: Gugu Lourie

The WACS (West Africa Cable System) undersea cable, which is critical to South Africa connection with the world, has been fixed. The South African National Research and Education Network (NREN) confirmed that the cable had been repaired on Saturday morning. WACS Outage Update: We have had final confirmation that the WACS repairs are complete and everything is according to specification. This matter is now resolved from an SA NREN perspective. — SA NREN Operational Updates & Alerts (@RENAlerts) April 4, 2020 Last week Tuesday, TENET, which is the operating partner of the South African national research & education network (SA…

JSE-listed technology company Altron said on Thursday it had resolved to demerge and separately list its UK business, Bytes UK. The company said the move is aimed at unlocking value for shareholders. Bytes UK will have a secondary listing on the JSE, while Altron will remain listed on the JSE. The process is likely to take between nine to 12 months, depending on capital market conditions. If financial markets have not corrected by then, Altron may decide to hold off on Bytes UK’s demerger and its separate listing. The decision to separately list Bytes UK was made following a review…

Telkom unveiled its Big Deal for April 2020, which would make sure you don’t run out of data. 1. The SmartBroadband Wireless Unlimited All Hours & Business Hours (Uncapped LTE) The deal includes the following: Uncapped LTE (All hours) Connects up to 64 devices LTE/fibre plug and play Wi-Fi router R99 once-off activation fee R899 per month 2. The Prepaid LTE Data Bundle The deal includes the following: 5GB Anytime data 5GB Night Surfer data R99 a month Uncapped LTE SmartBroadband Wireless Unlimited All Hours & Business Hours shall be available on a 24-month deal contract and as a SIM-only offer.…

Rob Shuter, the outgoing CEO of MTN Group, was paid R42 million in special cash-settled onboarding incentive in the 2019 financial year. Shuter is leaving MTN next year at the end of his contract in March 2021. He was appointed on 13 March 2017 as a CEO of MTN, Africa and the Middle East biggest mobile phone operator. MTN revealed in its 2019 integrated annual report that on appointment Shuter was granted a cash-settled share-based payment incentive in lieu of unvested stocks or equity relinquished upon resignation from previous employment. “The value of the incentive will be determined based on…

Rob Shuter, the outgoing CEO of MTN Group, was paid R58.2 million in 2019 financial year. The total package of R58.2 million was made up of a R17.3 million salary and a R27.5 million bonus, plus more than R10 million long term incentive bonus. Shuter is leaving MTN next year at the end of his contract in March 2021. Shuter joined MTN from Vodafone in 2016 to replace Sifiso Dabengwa. He was the CEO of Vodafone’s European cluster. Shuter is also a former CEO of Vodafone Netherlands and ex-Vodacom chief financial officer. He has extensive experience in telecoms and banking…

South Africa’s car and driver’s licences will remain valid while Covid-19 measures keep licensing offices closed, and citizens from renewing their paperwork, according to new transport regulations. In terms of disaster regulations issued by transport minister Fikile Mbalula, during the lock-down, the validity period for learner’s licence, driving licence, motor vehicle licence disk, temporary permit, professional driving permit and roadworthy certificates shall be deemed to be valid. These regulations may be extended for a further grace period of 30 days from the date of expiry of a lockdown unless determined otherwise. The validity period for the renewal of a motor…

The Constitutional Court challenge launched by an undisclosed foundation which is against the 21-day lockdown has been dismissed, News24 reported. The application was seeking leave to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa’s order to implement a 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. The application was brought by South African civil society group Hola Bon Renaissance (HBR), who applied for direct access to the Constitutional Court on the basis of urgency. News24 reported that the Constitutional Court said the case had no prospect of success and decided not to award costs. Also read: Coronavirus: South Africa to Oppose an Undisclosed Foundation…

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night revealed that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has risen to 1,326 – and three people are confirmed to have died from the coronavirus. He was addressing the nation four days into the 21-day nationwide lockdown. “We are now entering a new phase in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. In the coming days, the government will be rolling out a screening, testing, tracing and medical management programme on a huge scale. “Around 10,000 field workers will be visiting homes in villages, towns and cities to screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms,” added…

Netcare, one of South Africa’s largest private hospital groups, announced on Monday that it is committed to working with Government and all other stakeholders to assist in containing and treating the pandemic. “We have proposed to the national and provincial Departments of Health that Netcare will treat public patients in Netcare facilities,” Netcare informed investors on JSE SENS news. “Given the exceptional circumstances and to ensure sustainability, Netcare will provide these services to COVID-19 related patients on a not-for- profit basis, seeking only to recover costs. “Given our limited capacity, any referrals from the public sector will need to be assessed…

As part of its efforts to escalate help to customers during the COVID-19 lockdown, FNB announced on Monday that it’s Connect customers will receive free data. “In April, individual and business customers on FNB Connect will also receive 1GB of free data to help them stay connected during the lockdown,” Jacques Celliers, FNB Chief Executive Officer, said on Monday. “We are also working with industry partners to ensure that customers can use any bank’s ATMs without paying additional fees over and above the fees charged by their bank.” In June 2015, FNB became the first bank in South Africa to…

The Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Sunday that a 74-year-old man died in ICU in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. South Africa has 1280 confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Sunday 29 March. “It is with sadness that we announce the second death of a patient who had tested positive for COVID-19,” said Mkhize. The 74-year-old male had been in ICU and ventilation in a private hospital in Ladysmith. He had travelled to Kruger National Park with his family and came back with flu-like symptoms. He was confirmed to be COVID-19 positive on the 27th of March 2020. “It has been reported to…

Standard Bank revealed on Sunday that you will not be charged Saswitch fees for utilising the ATM of a competing bank. “The banking sector has collectively decided to waive Saswitch fees during the lockdown,” said Africa’s largest bank by assets. “This means that a customer can use any ATM, including those offered by competing banks and only pay the usual fees charged.” Bankserv Africa said on its website when it launched Saswitch – a switching system that allows for customers to use just about any ATM, regardless of which bank they belong to – it was a world-first in interbank…

Standard Bank has announced a second wave of relief to help its customer base navigate financial commitments as Covid-19 continues to impact the livelihood of many individuals across the country. The payment reprieve is aimed at easing the financial burden of customers earning R7 500 or less, who will receive three-month instalment relief if they are not in arrears on any of their accounts (as at 31 March 2020). The bank said this relief applies to qualifying customers and their associated accounts, which include home loan, vehicle and asset finance, credit cards as well as short term loans. Customers who opt…

South Africa’s competition watchdog has blocked Naspers deal to acquire WeBuyCars, a dealer in used vehicles in South Africa. The Competition Tribunal announced its decision on Friday issued an order prohibiting the proposed transaction involving MIH eCommerce Holdings (MIH), trading as OLX South Africa (OLX), and WeBuyCars. MIH is ultimately controlled by Naspers, a JSE-listed group. The reasons for the Tribunal’s prohibition will be made available in due course. The Commission – which investigates and assesses large mergers before referring them to the Tribunal for a decision – recommended that the proposed transaction should be prohibited as it is likely…

The WACS (West Africa Cable System) undersea cable, which is critical to South Africa connection with the world, is broken again. TENET, which is the operating partner of the South African national research & education network (SA NREN), said it detected the break by 23:28 last night. We are observing our WACS capacity as down since 23h28 UTC/27th March 2020. A call has been logged with our provider for feedback. Traffic has failed over to SEACOM and EASSy cable systems and there is currently no impact for SA NREN traffic. — SA NREN Operational Updates & Alerts (@RENAlerts) March 28,…

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has reached 1170, an increase of 270 cases since Thursday, the South African government confirmed. Minister in the presidency, Jackson Mthembu, said on Friday evening that health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize had asked him to relay the figure. Earlier on Friday, it was announced that two people had died as a result of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. However, Mthembu clarified that one of the deaths was confirmed to be linked to Covid-19. The second case, he said, was linked to Covid-19 but had not yet been confirmed. In light of…

Vodacom has appointed businessman Saki Macozoma to the role of chairman of the Vodafone-owned mobile company. Chairman Jabu Moleketi will retire and step down from its board at its next annual general meeting. Macozoma’s appointment is effective from 22 July 2020. He was first appointed to Vodacom’s board in July 2017. He also assumes the role of chairman of the Nomination Committee and will step down from the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee. “The board expresses its thanks to Jabu for his leadership and valuable contribution to both the board and Vodacom over the past 11 years and wishes him…

South Africa has reported its first deaths resulting from coronavirus, says Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize. “This morning, we wake South Africans up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from COVID-19,” he said in a statement. “These two deaths occurred in the Western Cape. One at a Private Hospital and the other at a Public Hospital. “We will give more details later on, when we announce the latest confirmed COVID-19 cases, which have increased from yesterday’s number and have tipped the 1000 mark.” All the #21daysLockdownSA drama that unfolded just outside our flat around…

Seedstars, the Swiss-based private group of companies with a mission to impact people’s lives in emerging markets, is happy to announce its Global Seedstars Summit will be held exclusively online, from March 31 to April 3rd, 2020. With a mission to create a positive impact through technology and entrepreneurship, the company has decided to digitally redesign its international Summit, to ensure the safety of its partners and community in the scope of the exceptional COVID-19 sanitation crisis. As Online Seedstars Summit, themed BEYOND, is approaching, we could not be prouder to be part of a community that is eager and…

Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe says the possibility of load shedding during the 21-day nationwide lockdown is unlikely. “The supply of fuel to the relevant critical and essential services, as well as the supply of coal to Eskom for electricity supply and liquid fuels production, are critical during this period. “Supplying Eskom with coal is a requirement and with the lockdown, demand will be very low so it is unlikely that we will have load shedding,” said the Minister. Mantashe made the remarks, during a joint media briefing with the Ministries of Arts and Culture and Telecommunications, where each…

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has stated that South Africa’s minibus taxis (as well as Uber and Bolt) and Shoholoza Meyl will be banned from the road during the lockdown. Trains will not be operating, long-distance has been shut down in terms of Shosholoza Meyl, Mbalula told 702. “This affects everybody, that includes Uber, Bolt and e-hailing systems and taxis.” On Monday, President Cyril Ramphosa announced a 21-day lockdown of the country effective from midnight on 26 March. Also read: Coronavirus: How To Make Donations To SA’s COVID-19 Solidarity Fund The South African Government has set up a Solidarity Fund, which…

Netcare, one of South Africa’s largest private hospital groups, announced on Wednesday that visiting hours at hospitals have been suspended, except in specific special circumstances, as a further precaution against the spread of COVID-19. Today, the number of local coronavirus cases have increased to 709. “In light of the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, we needed to take extraordinary measures to protect all healthcare teams and our patients who cannot be discharged,” says Dr Richard Friedland, Netcare chief executive officer. The following measures will apply: All visiting hours for general wards, ICUs and the high care units will be suspended with…

All South African restaurants, takeaways and food delivery will be closed during South Africa’s 21-day coronavirus lockdown, said Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kuyabi-Ngubane. In a letter to the restaurant industry on Tuesday, Kuyabi-Ngubane said: “In compliance with the nation-wide lockdown it should be noted that ALL restaurants, cafes, bars, coffee shops will be required to comply with the nation-wide lockdown for 21 days.” “Such service providers have NOT been included on the list of what has been deemed essential services during the lockdown and will NOT be permitted to operate and will thus need to be closed for the duration,”…

The South African Government has set up a Solidarity Fund, which South African businesses, organisations and individuals, and members of the international community, can contribute to Ameliorate the impact of the coronavirus. “The Fund will focus efforts to combat the spread of the virus, help us to track the spread, care for those who are ill and support those whose lives are disrupted,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa. “The Fund will complement what we are doing in the public sector.” This Fund will be chaired by Ms Gloria Serobe and the deputy Chairperson is Mr Adrian Enthoven. The Fund has a…

As part of a swift and extraordinary action to deal with coronavirus, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced measures to assist businesses that may be in distress and a windfall for some individual taxpayers. “Using the tax system, we will provide a tax subsidy of up to R500 per month for the next four months for those private-sector employees earning below R6,500 under the Employment Tax Incentive,” said Ramaphosa. He added that this will help over 4 million workers. The South African Revenue Service will also work towards accelerating the payment of employment tax incentive reimbursements from twice a year to monthly to…